289 better than 302 block for 331 build?

[Jesse Kershaw]

SSDiv6,

We discontinued to R302 because it was replaced by the Boss block which we believe is better in every way. The iron is better, core shift is essentially non-existent, oiling and cooling is revised and improved, cost came down, etc.

The R302 tooling as I recall was getting old and we sold the last of our production blocks and Sportsman blocks. The Boss 302 was designed to replace both our race block and the Sportsman. For us to have rehab'd the R302 tooling would have been an inferior block for more money.

In regards to other posts I agree that piston skirts can make a big difference. We use Mahle pistons and have had great results.